Continuous roll baling machine

ABSTRACT

A machine is provided for continuously forming roll bales of crop material while moving across a field without stopping to discharge the bales. The machine includes a lower apron and a pair of upper aprons. One of the upper aprons cooperates with the lower apron to define a front bale forming chamber while the two upper aprons cooperate with each other to define a rear bale forming chamber.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the type of roll baling machine thatis capable of continuously forming roll bales of crop material whilemoving across a field without stopping to discharge such bales.

An example of this type of roll baling machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,035,999, assigned to the same assignee as the present application.The disclosed machine includes a lower apron and a pair of upper aprons.The upper aprons cooperate with the lower apron to define front and rearbale forming chambers. While a completed roll bale is being wrapped withtwine and discharged from the rear chamber, another bale is started inthe front chamber. When the bale started in the front chamber reaches apredetermined size, it is transferred to the rear chamber where it iscompleted. This provides for continuous baling operation of the machine.

A drawback of the machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,999 is thatthe distance a bale is transferred from the front chamber to the rearchamber is too great, thereby often resulting in damage to the baleduring its transfer from the front to the rear chamber.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned drawback byproviding an arrangement where a first one of the upper apronscooperates with the lower apron to define the front chamber while thetwo upper aprons cooperate with each other to define the rear chamber.This arrangement significantly reduces the bale transfer distancebetween the front and rear chambers. The first upper apron has a firstposition where material is prevented from entering the rear chamber, asecond position where a roll bale of predetermined diameter may betransferred from the front chamber to the rear chamber, and a thirdposition where material is allowed to enter the rear chamber while aroll bale of at least said predetermined diameter is maintained in therear chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevation view of a roll balingmachine according to the present invention at the initiation of thebaling operation;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 when a bale of predetermined size hasbeen formed in the front chamber;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to claim 1 when the bale is ready to betransferred from the front chamber to the rear chamber;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 immediately after the bale has beentransferred from the front chamber to the rear chamber;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 during completion of the bale in therear chamber;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 when the bale has been completed inthe rear chamber and another bale is being started in the front chamber;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 when the completed bale in the rearchamber is being wrapped with twine as the bale in the front chamber isbeing formed; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 during discharge of the completedbale from the rear chamber;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a roll baling machine 10 according to the presentinvention includes a base frame 12 supported at its sides by wheels 14and adapted for connection to a tractor (not shown) by a tongue 16. Apickup device 18 and a lower apron 20 are supported on the base frame12. The lower apron 20 is preferably of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 3,901,007, incorporated herein by reference. A rear frame 22 ispivotally connected at 24 to the base frame 12.

A first upper bale forming apron 26 is movably supported on guidemembers 28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42 carried on the opposite sides of thebase frame 12 and on guide members 44,46,48 carried at the oppositesides of the rear frame 22. The upper course 20a of the lower apron 20cooperates with a course 26a of the first upper apron 26 extendingbetween the guide members 28 and 40 to define an expandable front balechamber 50.

A second upper bale forming apron 52 is movably supported on guidemembers 54,56,58,60,62 carried at the opposite sides of the rear frame22. A course 52a of the second upper apron 52 extending between theguide members 54 and 62 cooperates with a course 26b of the first upperapron 26 extending between the guide members 40 and 48 to define anexpandable rear bale chamber 64. The rear part of the lower apron 20 anda roller 65 are disposed at the bottom of the rear bale chamber 64. Thefirst and second upper aprons 26 and 52 are preferably formed of a pairof endless link-type chains connected at spaced intervals by transversebars or slats such as the upper apron disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,901,007. The guide members 42 are of the cam type also disclosed inthis patent.

A series of ramps 66 are carried on the base frame 12 and extendtransversely between the opposite sides thereof. These ramps 66 arepivotally movable and are similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,035,999, incorporated herein by reference, and designated therein bythe numeral "282". The guide members 40 are carried by a pair of arms 68which are pivotally movable on shafts 70 secured to the base frame 12.Hydraulic cylinders 72 control the pivotal movement of the arms 68, andslots 74 formed in the sides of the base frame 12 limit and guide theupward and downward movement of the guide members 40. An actuatormechanism 76 interconnects the arms 68 and the ramps 66. The guidemembers 34 and 36 are movable fore and aft in channels 78 and 80,respectively, mounted on the base frame 12. Idler mechanisms 82 controlthe movement of the guide members 34 in the channel 78. Springs 84 areconnected to the guide members 36 by cables or chains 86 to urge theguide members 36 forward in the channels 80 to thus provide tension inthe apron 26.

Hydraulic cylinders 88 are connected between the base frame 12 and therear frame 22 for moving the rear frame 22 between the closed positionshown in FIG. 1 and the open position shown in FIG. 8. The guide members44,46,48,54 and 60 are carried on an arm assembly 90 that is pivoted at92 on the rear frame 22. Springs 94 are connected to lever portions 96of the arm assembly 90 to urge the arm assembly 90 in a counterclockwisedirection about the pivot 92 when viewed in FIG. 1. The guide members 56and 58 are carried on another arm assembly 98 that is also pivoted at 92on the rear frame 22. Springs 100 are connected to lever portions 102 ofthe arm assembly 98 to urge the arm assembly 98 in a clockwise directionabout the pivot 92 when viewed in FIG. 1. Springs 94 are stronger thansprings 100. A control linkage 104 is connected between the rear frame22 and other lever portions 106 of the arm assembly 90 to hold the armassembly 90 in a clockwise direction against the springs 94, when viewedin FIG. 1, during movement of the rear frame 22 to the open position ofFIG. 8.

OPERATION

As the machine 10 is pulled across a field by a tractor, the pickupdevice 18 delivers crop material into the front bale chamber 50 where itis coiled by the cooperating movement of the lower apron 20 and theupper apron 26 (as indicated in FIG. 1) to start the core of a rollbale. During this stage of the operation, the guide members 40 are intheir lowermost position in the slots 74 and the ramps 66 are pivotedupwardly to extend through and above the upper course 20a of the lowerapron 20 so that the upper apron 26 and the ramps 66 together close therear of the front bale chamber 50 and thereby effectively preventmaterial from entering the rear bale chamber 64. As the bale increasesin diameter, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide members 36 move rearward inthe channels 80 against the force of the springs 84. This allows thecourse 26a of the apron 26 that extends between the guide members 28 and40 to expand around the bale.

When the bale reaches a predetermined diameter, the guide members 40 aremoved upward in the slots 74, as shown in FIG. 3, by contracting thehydraulic cylinders 72 in order to pivot the arms 68 upwardly on theshafts 70. The guide members 36 are moved forward in the channels 80 bythe springs 84 to take up the slack in the apron 26 resulting from themovement of the guide members 40 to their uppermost positions in theslots 74. The actuator mechanism 76 connecting the arms 68 and the ramps66 causes downward pivoting movement of the ramps 66 simultaneously withthe upward movement of the guide members 40. The ramps 66 are pivoteddownwardly below the upper course 20a of the lower apron 20. Thesemovements of the guide members 40 and the ramps 66 open up the rear ofthe front bale chamber 50 and the front of the rear bale chamber 64.

The bale is then transferred by the lower apron 20 into the rear balechamber 64, as shown in FIG. 4, where it rests primarily on the roller65. To assist the transfer of the bale, the apron 26 is either stoppedor driven in reverse direction. Next, the guide members 40 are moveddownward in the slots 74 to an intermediate position by extending thehydraulic cylinders 72 in order to pivot the arms 68 downward about theshafts 70. In this intermediate position of the guide members 40, thecourse 26a of the apron 26 that extends between the guide members 28 and40 is supported lightly by the guide members 42. At the same time, thecourse 26b of the apron 26 that extends between the guide members 40 and48 expands around a forward upper portion of the bale to maintain thebale in the rear bale chamber 64. The course 52a of the apron 52 thatextends between the guide members 54 and 62 expands slightly around therear of the bale. This expansion of the apron course 52a is permitted byforward pivoting movement of the arm assembly 98 on the pivot 92. Theactuator mechanism 76 connecting the arms 68 and the ramps 66 causessome upward pivoting movement of the ramps 66 simultaneously with thedownward movement of the guide members 40 to their intermediatepositions. However, the ramps 66 are not pivoted upward far enough toextend above the upper course 20a of the lower apron 20. Therefore, theramps 66 nor the apron 26 prevent or impede material from entering therear bale chamber 64. Material is delivered through the front balechamber 50 into the rear bale chamber 64 by the lower apron 20, as seenin FIG. 4, to complete the bale.

The bale increases in diameter, as shown in FIG. 5, thereby expandingthe course 26b of the apron 26 that extends between the guide members 40and 48, and also expanding the course 52a of the apron 52 that extendsbetween the guide members 54 and 62. The guide members 36 move rearwardin the channels 80 to permit the expansion of the apron course 26b. Thearm assemblies 90 and 98 pivot rearwardly about pivot 92 duringexpansion of apron course 26b and expansion of apron course 52a.

When the bale reaches the desired diameter, the guide members 40 aremoved downward in the slots 74, as shown in FIG. 6, by further extendingthe hydraulic cylinders 72 to pivot the arms 68 downward on the shafts70. The idler mechanisms 82 allow the guide members 34 to move forwardin the channels 78 to relax some of the tension in the apron 26. Theguide members 40 move to their lowermost position in slots 74 and theactuator mechanism 76 connected between the arms 68 and ramps 66simultaneously causes the ramps 66 to pivot upwardly above the uppercourse 20a of the lower apron 20. The apron 26 and the ramps 66 closethe rear of the front bale chamber 50 and thus cut off the delivery ofmaterial to the rear bale chamber 64. The core of another roll bale isthen started in the front bale chamber 50.

While the second bale increases in diameter in the front bale chamber50, as shown in FIG. 7, the completed bale which is still disposed inthe rear bale chamber 64 is wrapped with twine or other suitablematerial in a conventional manner. When the twine wrapping is completed,the hydraulic cylinders 88 are extended to move the rear frame 22upwardly to the open position of FIG. 8. The idler mechanisms 82 movethe guide members 34 rearward in the channels 78 to help take up some ofthe slack in the apron 26. The control linkage 104 acts against thespring 94 to maintain the arm assembly 90 in a position where it doesnot interfere with the upward opening movement of the rear frame 22. Thecompleted bale is discharged from the machine 10 in the manner indicatedin FIG. 8 while the second bale continues to be formed in the front balechamber 50. After discharging the completed bale, the hydrauliccylinders 88 are contracted to move the rear frame 22 downwardly to itsclosed position, and the parts of the machine 10 are once again locatedas shown in FIG. 2 so that the baling operation may continue withoutinterruption.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the movements of thevarious parts of the roll baling machine 10 would be controlledautomatically by using conventional electronic equipment. However, theymay also be controlled mechanically by an operator with the aid ofvisual indicators.

The foregoing description illustrates preferred embodiments of theinvention. However, concepts employed may, based upon such description,be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect theinvention broadly, as well as in the specific forms shown herein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A rollbaling machine comprising:a base frame; a rear frame pivotally connectedto said base frame for movement between a closed position and an openposition; a lower apron movably supported on said base frame; a firstupper apron movably supported on said base frame and said rear frame; asecond upper apron movably supported on said rear frame; said firstupper apron cooperating with said lower apron to define a front baleforming chamber; and said first upper apron cooperating with said secondupper apron to define a rear bale forming chamber.
 2. The roll balingmachine of claim 1, wherein a portion of said lower apron is located atthe bottom of said rear bale forming chamber.
 3. The roll baling machineof claim 1, wherein said first upper apron has:a first position wherematerial is prevented from entering said rear bale forming chamber; asecond position where a roll bale of predetermined diameter may betransferred from said front to said rear bale forming chamber; and athird position where material is allowed to enter said rear bale formingchamber while a roll bale of at least said predetermined diameter ismaintained in said rear bale forming chamber.
 4. The roll baling machineof claim 1, wherein said first and second upper aprons expand around aroll bale which is disposed in said rear bale forming chamber.
 5. Theroll baling machine of claim 4, wherein said first upper apronsimultaneously expands around another roll bale which is disposed insaid front bale forming chamber.
 6. In a roll baling machine having alower bale forming apron, a first upper bale forming apron, and a secondupper bale forming apron, the improvement comprising:said first upperbale forming apron cooperating with said lower bale forming apron todefine a first bale forming chamber: said first upper bale forming aproncooperating with said second upper bale forming means to define a secondbale forming chamber therebetween; and said first and second upper baleforming apron each including a course which is expandable in lengtharound a roll bale during formation thereof in said second bale formingchamber.
 7. The improvement of claim 6, wherein said first upper baleforming apron includes another course which is expandable in lengtharound another roll bale during formation thereof in said first baleforming chamber.
 8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said lower baleforming apron and said first and second upper bale forming apron areeach comprised of endless apron means.
 9. The improvement of claim 6,wherein said first and second bale forming chambers are each generallytriangularly shaped in side view when in the empty condition.
 10. Theimprovement of claim 6, wherein said first upper bale forming apronhas:a first position where material is prevented from entering saidsecond bale forming chamber; a second position where a roll bale of apredetermined diameter may be transferred from said first to said secondbale forming chamber; and a third position where material is allowed toenter said second bale forming chamber while a roll bale of at leastsaid predetermined diameter is maintained therein by said first upperbale forming apron.
 11. The improvement of claim 10, wherein:said firstupper bale forming apron is moved from said first to said secondposition after a roll bale of said predetermiend diameter has beenformed in said first bale forming chamber; and said first upper baleforming apron is moved from said second to said third position after aroll bale of said predetermined diameter has been transferred from saidfirst to said second bale forming chamber.
 12. A roll baling machinecomprising:a base frame; a rear frame pivotally connected to said baseframe for movement between a closed position and an open position; alower bale forming apron supported on said base frame; a first upperbale forming apron supported on both said base frame and said rearframe; a second upper bale forming apron supported on only said rearframe; said first upper bale forming apron cooperating with said lowerbale forming apron to define a first bale forming chamber therebetween;and said first upper bale forming apron cooperating with said secondupper bale forming apron to define a second bale forming chambertherebetween.